System and method for supporting fibre channel over ethernet communication
US8711864B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2010 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/4641
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for transmitting packets over two different network protocols without protocol conversion in any switches. A computer system comprises host computers and target storage arrays, or targets, coupled to one another through a Enhanced Ethernet network. Each of the host computers and the targets is configured to transmit encapsulated packets, such as a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) packet. During system configuration, each of the targets is set to be the only target included in a virtual local area network (VLAN) with a corresponding unique VLAN identifier (ID). A given host computer logins to multiple assigned targets using a predefined Fiber Channel protocol. In response to a login request, a corresponding target assigns and conveys a N_Port ID that comprises a VLAN ID and a unique Host ID to the host computer in a reply message. A virtual link is established between the host computer and the target storage array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.